Gardening brings people together, and the Westminster Presbyterian Church and International Rescue Committee of Abilene have partnered together to provide local refugees an opportunity to sow seeds of their own and establish roots in their new community.
Officially opened May 2, the two local organizations launched the New Roots Garden, a hands-on, community-centered gardening program for refugees sponsored by the IRC.
“Even the name, New Roots, it has a double meaning. It’s not just about physical roots in the ground, but it’s about planting new roots in a new life,” said Arina Gray, the resettlement manager at the IRC of Abilene. “It represents the beginning of a new life, it’s about growing a community and creating those connections and giving them a sense of belonging.”
Through the program, selected refugees are given access to their own garden box located at the Westminster Presbyterian Church and provided with tools and supplies to cultivate and grow their own fruits and vegetables.
“We want them to grow vegetables or herbs they are familiar with, because many of them, that’s what they used to do back home,” said Gray. “Many of them are used to gardening or farming, and so it reminds them of their home.”
According to Gray, the IRC works with a diverse group of refugees and survivors coming from varying backgrounds and cultures, sometimes escaping difficult circumstances such as natural disasters and conflicts. The IRC aims to provide support and opportunities for these individuals as they reestablish their lives in Abilene.
“Our clients are able to meet each other, and they’re building connections here,” said Gray. “Social isolation is a big thing for our clients. A lack of community support and social isolation is probably the biggest barrier we’re dealing with. So this brings them together. They’re able to meet and connect, and also they’re able to connect with other community members.”
Through the IRC’s partnership with the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 11 garden boxes have been established at the church and filled with quality soil ready for planting.
“We’re really privileged to be a part of this and enjoying it,” said Sara Core, the pastor at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. “We had some church members, some helpers and some of the IRC staff all get together one Saturday and build the boxes and put them together ourselves.”
The church itself sits on the back of a five-acre lot.
Core said a majority of the land is unused, so they wanted to find a way to utilize the extra space to help the community.
“I contacted the IRC around January because we wanted to get this going for spring, and they were very excited to have this opportunity,” said Core.
Together, the church and IRC have established a place where local refugees and survivors can reconnect with the earth and find peace and community through gardening.
“This is a familiar and comfortable space for them when they are in such a foreign place,” said Core.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: How an Abilene garden is supporting local refugees
Reporting by Lauren Dossey, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
